San Diego Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Hosted by Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista – Community Benefits Program
Who We Are
What We Do
College & Graduate-Level Internships
Health Equity Research Collaboration
Why Our Work Matters
Contact Us
Who We Are
The San Diego Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC) strengthens the local health workforce by providing training, education, and mentorship opportunities across South Bay San Diego
- Community-based training
- Preparing students and trainees to understand real-world health needs through hands-on learning in hospitals, clinics, and community-based settings
- Health professional education
- Offering structured rotations, field training, and classroom-based learning by healthcare providers, public health educators, and social service professionals.
- Mentorship and youth pipeline development
- Supporting local youth, especially underrepresented students, with mentoring, career exploration, and early exposure to health professions.
- Programs that advance health equity in underserved communities
- Guiding learners to work effectively with medical and economically disadvantaged communities while addressing disparities in access, prevention, and wellness.
What We Do
K-12 Health Career Pipeline Programs
AHEC leads K–12 pipeline programs that serve medical and economically disadvantaged communities across South Bay San Diego. These initiatives strengthen school-based wellness programs, mentoring, and clinical exposure to better support, standardize, and assess the development of underrepresented high school students.
- School-to-Health Career Mentoring Program
- Long-standing mentoring program serving low-income youth across the Sweetwater Union High School District. Each year, more than 100 students aged 16-18 receive mentoring, exposure to healthcare careers, and structured support to build confidence and prepare for future pathways into the health professions.
- Our Health Program
- A hands-on learning experience where Family Medicine residents work directly with high school students on health-related activities, clinical skills demonstrations, and short rotations. Students gain early exposure to the clinical environment and build foundational knowledge in public health and preventative care.
- Health Professions in the Classroom
- Residents and college-level public health and social work interns deliver interactive presentations in high school classrooms. Topics include healthcare careers, community health issues, case-based scenarios, and basic health education. This program helps students understand real-world applications of health professions.
- Scripps Mercy Youth Summer Camp
- An immersive summer experience that introduces students to multiple healthcare professionals through hospital tours, hands-on activities, and career panels. Participants interact with clinicians and healthcare professionals, learn about hospital departments, and explore pathways into medicine and allied health.
- Cristo Rey Work-Study Program (Hospital-Based Internship)
- High school work-study students are placed in hospital departments where they assist staff, learn workplace professionalism, gain exposure to clinical environments, and develop transferable skills.
- AHEC High School Scholars Program
- Recently expanded to include high school students, this program offers advanced learning on health disparities, medical and economically disadvantaged community needs, and public health concepts. Scholars participate in workshops, complete community-focused activities, and begin building the core skills needed for future careers in healthcare.
College & Graduate-Level Internships
AHEC supports comprehensive, experiential learning while advancing health equity throughout the region, hosting students from community colleges, universities, and master’s-level programs who participate in:
- Community Engagement & Outreach
- Interns assist with health education workshops, community events, classroom presentations, resource fairs, and wellness programs.
- Patient Follow-Up & Chronic Disease Support
- Interns support patients recovering from stroke, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and acute myocardial infarction by providing education, follow-up interactions, and resource/healthcare system navigation assistance.
- Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Screening & Resource Navigation
- Interns conduct social needs assessments, make follow-up calls, and connect patients to essential programs, including food assistance, housing support, transportation, utilities assistance, financial aid, and health services.
- Career Preparation & Professional Development
- Interns receive mentorship, practical experience, and exposure to public health, social work, and clinical environments, strengthening graduate school applications and preparing them for careers in health and social service fields.
- AHEC Scholars Participation & Community-Based Research Opportunities
- Interns may participate in the AHEC Scholars Program, which provides advanced training on health disparities, community health, and care delivery in medical and economically disadvantaged settings. Scholars engage in interdisciplinary seminars, case-based learning, and applied projects that deepen their understanding of population health, equity frameworks, and community-engaged practice.
Health Equity Research Collaboration
Through the San Diego Border AHEC Director’s role as Co-Director of the Scripps Collaborative for Health Excellence (SCHE), this partnership broadens opportunities for residents and physicians to engage in health equity research, receive structured mentorship, and contribute to community-focused solutions.
- Residents and Physicians Receive Mentorship
- Trainees are paired with faculty mentors for organized research support.
- Focus on Priority Health Disparities
- Projects target inequities in breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurology.
- Opportunities for Academic Dissemination
- Trainees present their findings at conferences, publish scholarly work, and propose community-level interventions.
Why Our Work Matters
The San Diego Border AHEC is a cornerstone in the South Bay San Diego region:
- Strengthening the future health workforce
- We equip learners with the skills and confidence needed to pursue healthcare careers.
- Expanding diversity in the health professions
- Programs focus on underrepresented youth and communities most affected by health disparities.
- Promoting health equity
- Our work connects education, healthcare, and community engagement to create more accessible, culturally responsive services.
- Supporting underrepresented communities
- From youth to older adults, our programs ensure individuals receive support that improves health and well-being.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact the Center Director –
Kendra Brandstein, PhD, MSW, MPH at brandstein.kendra@scrippshealth.org.
Click here to view the San Diego Border AHEC Brochure.
